COASTAL AREAS

The impacts of climate change on islands and coastal areas are determined by rising sea levels and extreme climate episodes.

The climate information available in most coastal areas comes from global models used for climate projections by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and it has very insufficient spatial resolution (level of detail) for analysing specific problems.

On the basis of our experience, and by applying different methodologies, we combine the data from global models with satellite information, and marine models (swell models, hydrodynamic models) to identify signs of climate change on coastal variables such as temperature, sea level and storm surge.

This type of study is essential for master plans of coastal infrastructure adaptation and for analysing the impact on natural areas and coastal ecosystems, which in turn often act as natural protection systems against such impact.